Opinions - Topics from May, 2012

There are times when technology definitely has its advantages. Case in point. You’ve heard me preach for years about researching political candidates to assist in making an educated vote. However, I felt that as a newspaper we were not bringing you enough information about candidates to assist readers. That is no longer the case.
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The turpentine gulag was in full swing in 1958 and we had 40 families of hands who lived in ‘quarters’ and were either employed in field labor or turpentining. Turpentining was a hot, dirty, nasty, hard way to make a meager living but at that time in history, a dollar was a silver dollar and worth 30 times what a dollar is worth today. Being as the turpentine business was filled with such drudgery, it was no wonder that on the weekends, after payoff on Friday afternoon, it was time for many of the hands to go to the ‘juke’ and boogie down all night. Every quarters had a juke joint and ours was no exception. At this particular time, the ‘juke’ was in old man Frank Baker’s house.
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Just this week, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 6oth anniversary as a monarch and announced her plans to continue to serve her nation in the years to come. She’s a very young 85, and her husband, Prince Phillip, is 90. She has worked with 12 prime ministers during her 60 years on the throne and has signed 3500 bills into law. Only the second British monarch to celebrate a diamond anniversary on the throne, she remembered her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, as the other. In her yellow suit and trademark matching hat, she spoke of using the wisdom of old age to guide her in her work.
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I would like to thank the many people that showed up to the benefit concert that was given in my honor on May 11, 2012 at St. Paul Church of God in Christ in Surrency. Let me go back first of all and honor my Pastor, Supt. James Frank Carter and wife, Elect Lady, Joyce Carter, along with their daughter, Jacqueline Carter that worked so tirelessly to get in different renowned singing artists to come and make the concert a great benefit from their hearts about the love of Jesus.
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After 32 years in the Legislature, State Representative Tommy Smith will not be seeking reelection to the Georgia House of Representatives. Smith said that he is strongly considering a race for Governor in the year 2018. He plans to devote at least five and a half years to the campaign, in order to organize an effective political network throughout the state, and to raise the necessary funds required to win the election.
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I squeezed into the front row of the Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., two weeks ago for the oral arguments of the Yucca Mountain case. What I heard coming from the government lawyers, however, confirmed that federal agencies have become way too powerful for their own good. And that unchecked power is doing untold damage in Georgia and other states.
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Back when the rains and storms came on a regular basis, we had constant trouble with our phones. Then the rains stopped for what seemed like ages. So did the phone problems. Now it’s raining again, thank God, and I pray that the rain continues, but the phone problems returned with the rain. As a matter of fact, we had a major breakdown about two weeks ago, and I discovered what a computer addict I’ve become. I said I’d never be a Facebook addict, but I realized to what degree I’ve succumbed when I didn’t have internet for about a week.
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B. J. and I began our Mother’s Day celebration on Thursday. Looking for a new place to do dinner, we selected a Chinese restaurant not far from us. The place has been there since 1977 and we’ve passed it countless times but had never eaten there. Therefore, we decided to check it out.
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As I worked Thursday and Friday designing this week’s graduation issue for the seniors of 2012, I realized just how old I am. I no longer identify with graduates individually. I now identify with graduates by their last names and assume that he or she is the child of this person or that person.
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Spring is at last beginning to take hold. Thank God, because I am tired of carrying firewood. The wood I thought would last three years is about gone. Each time one of my children starts whining if they can turn on the electric heat, I throw a lighter’d knot on the fire and in a few minutes they have to get far away from the hearth or burn up.
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Next Friday, May 18, 2012, Appling County High School will acquire yet another set of alumni—the notorious and glorious Class of 2012. Caps and gowns have been delivered and worn proudly about the school and at Junior-Senior Coffee House. At Honors Night, many collected medals to enhance their stoles. These graduates are a proud group, as well they should be. So are parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends. And teachers—let us not forget them. Teachers invest so much time into students, both the eager and the reluctant ones. Pride buds as graduation approaches and bursts into full bloom as those red and black lines march to the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance” into Jimmy Swain Stadium. The teachers’ jobs are done at this point. This group is ready to face the world, to endure and overcome whatever life holds for its members.
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B. J. and I along with our long-time dear friends and close neighbors on St. Simons Island, Cardy and Dottie Edmundson, were booked for an Eastern Caribbean Cruise aboard the awesome Holland America luxury liner Zaandam. We had spent a fun evening with the Edmundsons in Cocoa Florida, had a restful and refreshing night’s sleep, and we were ready to board the Zaandam where they had breakfast ready for us.
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The Lord provided a beautiful day for the Walk for Jesus that was held on Saturday, May 5th. A big “thank you” to everyone who came out and supported the Walk and to the Pastors who prayed, First African Baptist Church for providing their trailer for people who could not walk to ride on, to Zion Church of God for providing bottled water along the way, to Baxley Church of God for the use of their fellowship hall for the service and the refreshments they provided, to Javan Anderson, Bonita Anderson and James Herrin for ministering in music, to Midway Baptist for the use of their bus and to Larry Tillman for driving the lead truck with the praise music.
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